The Presidency: Claudia The Beautician

"Ten thousand Girl Scouts of
Kickapoo Council salute you," said the telegram, "pledging their
continued services in the efforts of their city beautiful." The
American Institute of Park Executives broke down and gave her the first
honorary membership ever to go to a woman, and only the fourth in its
67-year history. Bannered the conservative Chicago Tribune: HER NAME is
CLAUDIA, AND BEAUTY IS HER AIM.

If anyone doubted that Lady Bird Johnson was in dead earnest about her
beautification program, he had only to watch her pace. Having presided
over...